Ekiti Election: 48 hours ban on Movement – IGP

Ekiti Election: 48 hours ban on Movement – IGP

Thursday, June 19, 2014 6:17 pm


Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, has placed an order banning movements in and out of Ekiti state, with effect from 6pm on Thursday, till the Ekiti governorship elections are over on Saturday.

A statement signed by the Force spokesman, Mr. Frank MBA, said movements in Ekiti will be “restricted within the state between 6am to 8pm.”

“Consequently, the states of Kwara, Kogi, Ondo and Osun which are contiguous to Ekiti state will have increased Police presence with all entry and exit points in and out of Ekiti maximally policed.

“However, persons on essential duties such as Ambulance service providers, INEC officials, on-duty security men, accredited election monitors/observers, accredited journalists, etc are not affected by this order.

The Force High Command said it notes that the restriction order is informed by the “exigencies of overriding security considerations.”

“The Force is not ignorant of the citizen’s right to freedom of movement, as enshrined in the constitution, it however reiterates that the order is informed by the need to forestall plans by criminal elements to undermine the electoral process as gathered through intelligence reports.”

Meanwhile, the IGP has also announced deployment of new officers to take charge of security in the state “as part of measures aimed at ensuring a proper coordination of security operations”.

The IGP says this is to ensure “a hitch-free election, devoid of electoral fraud in the forthcoming Ekiti governorship election.”

Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Bala M Nasarawa will supervise security arrangements in the state, Abubakar announced in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.

AIG Nasarawa will be assisted by four Commissioners of Police, with Ikechukwu Aduba functioning as Commissioner of Police in charge of Ekiti for the period of the election.

“Three other CPs will be specifically, saddled with the responsibility of supervising security arrangements in the three senatorial districts of the state,” the IGP said.

They are: CP Danladi Y. Mshelbwala (Ekiti-North), CP Mohammed Ibrahim (Ekiti-Central) and CP Augustine Eubakhabokum (Ekiti-South).

lCommissioner of Police Hosea Karma has been charged with the responsibility of supervising the operations of the Police Mobile Force and other special Strike Forces.

The Police boss said, “while empathizing with the citizenry over the inconveniences the order may cause, the IGP implores them to see this restriction as a necessary sacrifice in the present circumstance geared towards the quest for a seamless, credible and successful gubernatorial election.”

“He also appeals to travelers to avail themselves of the use of alternate routes to their various destinations where necessary within the stipulated days.”

The Force however warned all security details to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.

“It emphasizes that only security personnel specially assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.”

The warning comes at the heel of an earlier report of an ambushment carried out against Governor Chibuike Ameachi of Rivers state in Ondo today to support Governor Kayode Fayemi at a political rally ahead of tomorrow’s election.


Join The Conversation

What do you think?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.